Chiefs, Altas keep share of 2nd

FOREIGN reinforcements Dioncee Holts and Bright Akhuetie imposed their will as Arellano and Perpetual Help repulsed separate rivals yesterday to keep a share of second spot in the 92nd NCAA basketball.

Holts dished out his best outing of the season so far with 20 points and 15 rebounds as the Chiefs subdued the Lyceum Pirates, 81-76, after Akhuetie powered the Altas to a 70-53 triumph over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals at Filoil Flying V Centre.

Later, Jose Rizal U shook off a sputtering start as it rallied from an early double-digit deficit for a 68-62 win over San Sebastian.

The Heavy Bombers leaned on Tey Teodoro and Abdoulatif Poutouochi to close the game on a 10-3 burst that sent the Stags reeling to a seventh straight loss.

The Chiefs and Altas raised their record to 6-2, just a game and a half behind pacesetter San Beda, which doesn’t see action until Friday when it collides with San Sebastian.
JRU climbed to sixth after improving to 3-4.

“It’s an import-dominated tournament and the teams that have good imports are on top,” said Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera.

The PBA great was glad to see Holts finally come out of his shell after averaging six points and four rebounds in the first seven games.

The 6-foot-5 Holts rediscovered his lethal game, firing nine of his output in the fourth period while helping contain Mike Nzeusseu early in the game.
Holts also paid tribute to Chiefs skipper Jalalon for sticking with him throughout his struggles in the first round of the tournament.

“Every day he keeps me motivated,” said Holts of Jalalon, who celebrated his 23rd birthday with a 13-point and seven-assist game. “He’s there every time I have a bad game and I feel I let my teammates down.”

Riled up by some trash-talking from the Generals, Akhuetie collected 19 points and 12 boards for the Altas, who held the Generals to just 22 percent shooting on their way to a fourth straight victory.

The scores:

First Game

PERPETUAL HELP 70—Akhuetie 19, Dagangon 15, Coronel 10, Hao 9, Singontiko 5, Pido 4, Gallardo 4, Sadiwa 2, Eze 2, Dizon 0, Cabiltes 0, Oliveria 0.
EAC 53—Morada 15, Laminou 14, Onwubere 13, Corilla 3, Guzman 3, Mendoza 3, Munsayac 2, King 0, Diego 0, Serrano 0, Pascua 0, Neri 0, General 0, Aguas 0, Estacio 0.
Quarters: 16-10, 30-20, 48-32, 70-53

Second Game

ARELLANO 81—Holts 20, Salado 17, Jalalon 13, Nichols 11, Flores 10, Cadavis 4, Villoria 3, Meca 2, Aguilar 1, Canete 0, Enriquez 0, Gumaru 0, Gupilan 0.
LYCEUM 76—Nzeusseu 24, Alanes 14, Ayaay 8, Magbuhos 8, Marata 6, Serafico 6, Caduyac 5, Baltazar 3, Soliman 2, Alban 0, Malabanan 0.
Quarters: 16-14, 37-29, 68-56, 81-76
Third Game
JRU 68—Teodoro 18, Dela Virgen 12, Grospe 10, Poutouochi 9, Pontejos 6, Lasquety 4, Abdul Wahab 4, Dela Paz 2, Cruz 2, Dada 1, Evardo 0, Astilla 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN 62—Costelo 18, Bulanadi 15, David 8, Calisaan 6, Mercado 4, Ilagan 4, Johnson 3, Sera Josef 2, Capobres 2, Baetiong 0, Quipse 0,Valdez 0, Fabian 0.
Quarters: 9-18, 27-33, 50-47, 68-62